6/28/21, 1:00 PM - Public Hearing: Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Virtual Hearing
| Status: | Normal |
| Date/Time: | 6/28/21 1:00 PM |
| Location: | Virtual Hearing |
| Committee: | Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure (JCP) |
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Topic: Alcohol Over Quota Licensing and COVID-19 Matters
The public is invited to participate in this virtual hearing. Written Electronic Testimony is preferred and may be submitted via email to jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.onmicrosoft.com. Please include the bill number and “Testimony” in the subject line of the email.
Registration to present oral testimony is required. To register, please fill out your contact information in this form by Friday, June 25 at 5 PM. Once registered, you will receive further instructions via email. Please be advised that the hearing will be recorded, and the recording shall be provided to the Legislative Information Services. All testimony submitted to the Committee is public information provided upon request. By submission, you agree to release to the public all information you have included.  The Committee will make reasonable efforts to ensure the email address or other contact information provided will not be published.  Please do not include any information you do not intend to make public, such as medical or other sensitive information. In addition, the hearing will be livestreamed via the Facebook public page of Chair Tackey Chan (https://www.facebook.com/RepTackeyChan).
06/28/2021 - CPPL Hearing 5
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This transcript is in the process of being edited, fully edited transcript to follow.
198.64 ROBERT198.64 MELLION198.64 -198.64 MASSACHUSETTS198.64 PACKAGE198.64 STORES198.64 ASSOCIATION198.64 -198.64 SB198.64 247198.64 -198.64 SB198.64 196198.64 -198.64 Thank198.64 you,198.88 Chairman198.97 Chan199.3 and199.89 thank200.23 you200.42 honorable200.9 members201.31 of201.67 the201.76 joint201.85 committee.202.09 You're203.87 seeing204.02 a204.24 lot204.3 of204.54 me,204.62 unfortunately,204.75 and205.39 that's205.48 because205.67 there206.34 are206.52 over206.67 80206.94 Bills207.23 that208.03 are208.36 going208.45 to208.6 be208.67 appearing208.8 before209.24 you209.61 this209.75 session209.92 that210.28 directly210.44 impact210.88 the211.84 alcohol211.93 beverages212.23 industry212.65 as213.23 it213.47 relates213.6 to213.98 retail,215.34 and215.46 that's215.46 of215.69 about215.88 137216.14 Bills217.1 that217.71 are217.94 impacting218.04 our218.6 industry.218.78 So220.24 it's220.63 in220.77 this220.87 context222.05 of222.64 disruption223.34 that224.13 MPSA225.04 so225.3 strongly225.46 opposes226.19 S227.18 196228.13 and228.94 S230.34 247,231.47 these231.47 are231.7 the231.79 drinks232.02 to232.39 go232.51 provisions.232.81 I233.28 say,233.35 drinks233.53 to233.82 go233.93 because234.15 it's234.98 important235.23 to235.54 clarify235.6 before236.07 this236.39 joint236.55 committee236.8 that237.17 this237.41 is237.58 not237.71 cocktails237.99 to238.54 go,238.65 it238.91 is239.02 drinks239.13 to239.48 go239.59 as240.07 it240.48 is240.71 written240.9 into241.24 the241.83 statutes.242.75 It243.19 is243.19 not243.34 just243.63 about243.92 restaurants,244.19 breweries,245.24 tap246.54 rooms247 and248.24 distillers248.61 are249.46 all249.75 able250.15 to250.68 do250.82 drinks251.03 to251.48 go251.6 under251.94 these252.22 provisions,252.44 they253.47 are253.66 all253.93 now254.47 retailers255.36 off256.22 premise256.58 and258.24 that's258.45 the258.75 problem258.87 here.259.32
260.24 So260.24 we261.13 have261.34 taken264.42 Chapter265.44 138265.44 which265.44 intentionally265.97 divided266.67 Section267.94 15268.44 licenses,268.87 Section269.72 12270.09 licenses270.42 and271.33 Section271.56 19271.92 licenses272.48 from273.47 intermingling273.89 and275.12 competing275.32 against275.78 one276.18 another276.36 and277.24 we277.46 have277.56 taken277.69 that278.03 aside278.21 and278.94 we279.28 have279.41 now279.61 created279.83 thousands280.48 of281.25 additional281.41 outlets282.31 for283.25 serving283.5 alcohol283.98 off284.57 the284.85 premise284.95 and286.04 it286.27 is286.37 having286.5 an286.82 impact,286.95 it288.24 is288.24 having288.48 an288.75 impact288.84 on289.28 the289.41 retail289.52 trades,291.54 it291.72 is291.72 creating291.88 unnecessary292.68 competition293.66 between294.6 off295.45 and295.85 on295.99 premise296.24 and296.94 producers297.21 leading299.2 to299.32 vertical299.32 integration,299.77 which301.04 is301.37 creating301.79 additional302.27 problems302.78 in303.12 this303.2 industry303.34 and304.29 it304.51 is304.61 having304.73 health305.15 consequences,305.57 has307.34 substance307.59 abuse307.97 consequences308.31 in309.6 the309.76 commonwealth309.84 and310.47 across310.67 the311.06 country.311.15 This312.64 is312.77 not312.85 hyperbole,313.05 you're314.24 going314.41 to314.57 hear314.57 me314.74 talking314.85 about315.17 this315.34 because315.5 someone315.78 needs316.07 to316.4 and316.79 it's317.16 important317.28 because317.7 the318.22 off318.67 premise319.02 trades319.52 care320.38 deeply320.78 about321.43 public321.77 safety322.13 so323.14 much323.35 so323.51 that323.65 I'm323.82 the323.93 administrator324.02 of324.62 the324.7 alcohol324.79 beverage325.11 training325.43 course325.73 for326.02 the326.13 entire326.22 state.326.54
327.44 I327.44 have327.52 a327.65 training327.7 tomorrow328.08 with328.6 three329 stores329.31 with330.12 about330.34 50330.64 people330.95 that331.58 I'm331.92 going332.01 to332.14 be332.2 doing332.31 and333.24 it's334.24 concerning334.77 because335.3 we335.66 are335.82 seeing335.92 real336.84 tangible337.46 consequences338.09 to339.54 expanding339.84 alcohol341.44 outlets342.05 in342.54 the342.69 state.342.79 First,344.84 we345.06 have345.06 seen345.25 that345.66 Alcohol346.54 consumption347.02 across347.93 the348.37 country348.48 has349.19 increased349.72 materially350.41 since351.55 2019354.09 going355.54 into355.88 2020.356.16 Those357.64 increases357.9 have358.44 been358.63 noted358.81 by359.21 they360.16 have360.16 been360.26 noted360.41 by360.67 prevention360.82 magazine361.33 and362.1 they362.55 are362.69 getting362.81 noted363.16 in363.5 other363.68 publications365.12 across365.87 the366.56 country,366.69 it367.12 is367.12 coming367.26 out367.58 now367.73 because367.98 these368.35 studies368.51 were368.86 going368.99 on369.31 during369.5 2020369.72 and370.6 now370.93 they're371.08 getting371.21 released371.5 and372 what's372.11 coming372.28 out372.62 is373.44 that373.7 we374.38 are374.57 seeing374.66 substantive375.23 rises376.15 in376.84 alcohol377.04 consumption.377.62 Overall,378.74 14%379.45 increase380.29 from380.75 last380.97 year381.34 has382.04 been382.47 noted382.63 amongst383.54 the384.87 people385.05 across385.42 the385.76 country.385.85 We386.53 have386.97 seen387.11 in387.69 binge387.89 drinking388.23 for388.64 women,388.83 an389.46 increase389.65 of390.11 41%.390.23
392.34 We392.34 have392.74 also392.87 seen393.44 increase394.44 in395.54 and396.2 this396.47 is396.63 alarming396.87 to397.43 our397.66 industry,398.28 we398.38 have398.38 seen398.49 an398.74 increase398.94 in400.24 underage400.76 drinking401.32 here402.44 in402.76 the402.89 Commonwealth402.97 and403.47 across403.63 the403.96 country,404.8 that405.04 increase405.04 is405.91 notable406.52 because406.92 it407.64 was407.81 going407.97 down408.29 for408.65 10408.8 years409.07 prior409.71 to410.18 us410.36 loosening410.59 up411.08 our411.24 regulations411.38 in412.02 the412.13 state412.22 and412.84 across413.17 the413.51 country.415.82 Consequences,415.97 we're415.97 also415.97 seeing416.18 an416.4 increase416.48 in416.85 DUIs,417.83 there418.38 were418.53 38,000418.64 fatalities420.41 last421.26 year421.6 in421.71 DUIs,422.34 and422.44 ironically422.44 at423.24 a423.48 time423.52 when423.77 people423.9 were424.25 13%424.41 driving425.16 less.426.64 These426.93 are426.93 the427 consequences427.08 and428.03 they're428.22 going428.35 to428.47 be428.53 more429.44 and429.66 we429.66 ask429.84 that430.63 we431.09 sensibly431.39 stop432.74 with433.74 these434.09 moves434.6 towards435.17 deregulation435.58 and437.24 put437.45 an437.62 end437.71 to438.4 drinks438.73 to439.21 go439.34 after440.34 the441.6 provisions442.36 expire443.22 next444.15 year.444.61 Thank445.05 you445.41 very445.5 much445.72 for445.93 the446.02 opportunity446.11 to446.5 testify446.56 before447.17 you447.62 today.447.76 Please448.58 feel449.07 free449.28 to449.5 ask449.58 us449.86 any450 questions450.2 regarding450.74 alcohol451.18 beverages451.44 industry451.84 and452.53 any453.06 questions453.37 concerning453.77 these454.23 Bills.454.45 Thank454.98 you455.28 again.455.38
477.81 REP477.81 GOUVIEA477.81 -477.81 Thank477.81 you478.08 for478.17 your478.3 testimony.478.41 Really478.86 truly479.14 appreciate479.44 you480 being480.11 here.480.39 You481.33 may481.54 or481.67 may481.74 not481.89 know482.09 that482.31 I482.83 have483.03 an483.14 extensive483.21 background483.65 in484.12 addiction484.36 prevention,484.79 substance485.27 abuse485.65 prevention,486.4 so486.54 some486.54 of486.71 the486.77 things486.87 that487.12 you've487.24 highlighted487.39 here487.83 do489.02 resonate489.27 with489.69 me,489.88 but490.03 I490.2 do490.26 have490.54 a491.02 question491.2 as491.98 it492.16 relates492.25 to492.61 the492.76 data492.9 that493.22 you493.38 just493.48 cited.493.76 How494.25 do494.62 you494.87 know495.08 that495.38 it495.55 was495.65 drinks496.64 to497 go497.15 that497.56 contributed497.8 to498.49 the498.97 increase499.25 because499.95 in500.88 my501 circles,501.24 particularly501.84 being502.37 a502.88 woman503.31 in503.61 my503.71 40s,503.98 knowing504.69 how505.11 much505.51 women506.19 and506.56 moms506.69 have507.05 struggled507.24 through507.68 the507.83 pandemic,509.14 I509.35 am509.35 not509.35 so509.35 sure509.48 that509.67 they're509.81 accessing509.97 their510.47 alcohol510.63 from511.95 restaurants513.06 and513.86 then513.95 taking514.07 it514.39 to514.5 go514.61 but514.96 probably515.54 visiting515.92 a516.3 lot516.37 of516.6 the517.07 folks517.23 who517.49 are517.6 members.517.7 So518.07 do518.17 you518.26 have518.35 more518.65 detailed518.85 data519.36 or520.1 is520.51 this520.63 just520.83 a521.41 little521.64 bit521.88 of522.46 kind524.14 of524.36 making524.69 some525.14 assumptions?525.32 So525.88 I525.99 just526.04 would526.26 love526.37 to526.51 understand526.58 that526.97 data527.09 more.527.31
528.35 MELLION528.97 -528.97 It's528.97 not529.3 making529.3 assumptions,529.3 there's529.3 a529.66 great529.73 article530.01 that530.44 was530.63 written530.8 by531.07 it531.9 was531.9 actually532.06 published532.56 in532.95 JAMA.533.04 The534.04 article534.52 was534.98 entitled535.18 changes536.24 in536.77 adult536.99 alcohol537.38 use537.86 and538.24 consequences538.4 during539.11 COVID-19539.41 pandemic540.17 in540.87 the541 United541.08 States541.45 where542.11 they542.54 actually542.76 site543.37 the544.83 loosening545.29 of545.88 regulations546.06 and547.17 the547.35 only547.41 loosening547.56 of547.89 regulations547.97 that548.48 have548.57 been548.66 going548.77 on549.11 throughout549.42 the549.68 pandemic549.75 was550.24 cocktails550.38 to550.86 go.550.97 In552.25 their552.47 article552.97 they553.76 cite553.99 that554.69 in555.64 comparison555.84 of556.55 what556.72 had556.94 happened,557.14 a558.57 snapshot558.62 of559 the559.06 industry559.17 in559.93 2018560.2 and560.95 2019,562.33 and562.46 then562.46 looking562.62 at563.01 2020563.21 they564.63 had564.84 observed565.43 a566.64 14%567.62 increase568.03 in568.41 alcohol568.52 consumption,569.8 they570 had570 observed570.28 the570.9 41570.99 of572.64 increase573.84 in574.65 women575.54 consuming577.34 alcohol578.05 and578.71 binge579.1 drinking,579.36 binge579.77 drink579.98 is580.22 more580.36 than580.55 four580.86 drinks581.21 an581.6 hour,582.42 that's582.66 all582.66 cited582.91 in583.33 that583.4 JAMA583.57 article.583.9 The584.66 same584.91 thing585.17 in585.41 prevention585.51 magazine,586.58 they587.27 produced587.27 a587.78 recent588.1 survey588.61 and589.64 in589.91 their590.03 survey590.21 they590.57 were590.74 showing590.89 ties591.27 to591.67 substance591.96 abuse592.38 as592.78 well592.92 and593.51 the593.93 same594.01 thing,594.68 it595.43 was595.57 the595.73 center595.92 for596.36 alcohol,600.87 I602.44 have602.44 to602.67 look603.01 that603.56 up,606.97 and608.55 they608.97 were609.28 the609.39 ones609.49 who609.75 came609.88 up610.14 with610.35 the610.55 data610.9 on611.35 the612.15 10612.3 years612.55 of613.3 declining613.86 alcohol618.47 policy.618.79 Yes.619.21 So619.68 they620.16 were620.28 the620.38 ones620.47 who620.68 had621.13 noticed621.69 that622.14 alcohol622.42 consumption622.86 amongst623.45 minors623.86 have624.28 been624.46 decreasing624.59 for625.17 the625.27 past625.35 decade625.65 and626.22 noticed626.59 the626.93 rise627.03 of627.81 minors628.22 consuming628.68 alcohol,629.97 we're630.45 at630.64 a630.87 20631.21 year631.55 high631.8 here632.48 in632.79 2021.632.89 So634.54 that's634.96 where635.23 the635.38 data635.47 comes635.76 from.636.03
637.04 GOUVEIA637.49 -637.49 Got637.49 you.637.49 So637.49 did637.76 they637.98 control638.11 for638.67 confounders639.63 that,639.84 you640.84 know,640.93 more641.04 people641.28 at641.68 home641.82 people642.35 not642.66 going642.9 out?643.9 Like644.29 I644.29 understand644.46 that645.11 the645.29 timing645.42 is645.94 such646.08 that646.47 there646.92 was647.05 a647.23 change647.35 in648.06 in648.7 a648.93 lifting649 of649.41 some649.59 of649.77 these649.85 restrictions650.93 but652.14 I'm652.14 still652.32 wondering652.62 and653.12 I'd653.27 love653.41 to653.62 see653.73 the653.9 paper,654.34 if654.46 you654.46 could654.56 share654.71 that654.95 with655.09 the655.23 committee,655.34 I'd655.77 love655.89 to656.09 understand656.48 that.657.09
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725.54 SEN725.54 DIZOGLIO725.54 -725.54 SB725.54 196725.54 -725.54 Thank725.54 you725.77 so725.85 much,726.98 Mr.727.29 Chairman,727.29 and727.29 through727.29 you727.48 to727.61 the727.73 members.727.81 I728.55 am729.28 testifying729.75 today730.23 in730.86 support730.99 of731.47 the732.04 Bill732.21 that732.42 I732.56 sponsored,732.65 Senate733.33 Bill734.84 196,735.52 an735.52 act735.52 to735.52 expanded735.52 take735.52 out735.85 and735.94 delivery736.03 options736.42 in736.8 the736.86 commonwealth736.94 of737.43 Massachusetts.737.51 I've738.4 had738.83 some738.98 remarks739.17 prepared,739.64 but740.26 I'm740.65 going740.85 to741.22 switch741.94 it742.29 up742.39 a742.52 little742.58 bit742.8 just743.17 due743.91 to744.13 what744.64 I744.94 just745.01 heard,745.29 the746.24 absurdity746.4 of747.01 what747.18 I747.34 just747.41 heard.748.44 First748.77 and748.77 foremost,749.89 I750.94 think751.1 it751.5 is751.62 not751.74 only752 disappointing,752.21 I753.74 think753.94 that754.54 it754.81 is754.99 disgraceful755.2 that756.74 we756.88 have757.04 a757.39 powerful757.5 lobbyist758.05 for758.51 the758.62 package758.88 store759.48 industry760.54 exploiting761.53 substance763.01 use763.79 disorder763.98 in764.75 our764.92 commonwealth765.05 to766.06 try766.24 to766.48 line766.7 his767.07 own767.26 pocket767.48 to768.94 make769.03 sure769.22 that770.18 he770.34 continues770.46 to771.23 make771.41 exorbitant772.18 money772.92 off773.74 of773.99 representing774.12 the774.99 package775.11 store775.53 industry,775.73 which776.45 saw776.93 increases777.11 in777.73 sales777.84 during778.63 the778.99 pandemic779.09 during779.85 the780.23 state780.31 shut780.6 down780.85 while781.15 everybody781.31 else781.7 was781.87 shut782.01 down782.3 of784.14 about784.26 25-35%784.5 in786.46 some786.64 cases786.87 in787.36 alcohol787.5 sales.789.74
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Speaker List:
- Robert Mellion Massachusetts Package Stores Association
- Rep. Gouveia Committee member
- Sen. Diana DiZoglio Sponsor of Senate Bill 196
- Rep. Chan Committee Co-Chair
- Rep. Oliveira Committee member
- Rep. Hill Sponsor of House Bill 386
Bill List:
- SB 247
- SB 196 An act to expand take out and delivery options in Massachusetts
- HB 386
Synopsis:
The legislative hearing centered around discussions on several bills affecting the alcohol beverage industry, particularly focusing on SB 196, which aims to expand takeout and delivery options for alcoholic beverages in Massachusetts. Robert Mellion, representing the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, firmly opposed SB 196 and SB 247, citing concerns about increased alcohol outlets leading to higher consumption, underage drinking, and DUI incidents. Mellion highlighted studies indicating a rise in alcohol consumption and related consequences since 2020, attributing these to relaxed regulations such as drinks to-go. He emphasized the impact on public safety and the traditional license structure that separates different alcohol sales channels.
In response, Rep. Gouveia questioned the validity of linking the drinks to-go with increased alcohol consumption, expressing skepticism on the causal connection and requesting further data clarification. Mellion referenced studies from JAMA and other sources that observed significant increases in alcohol consumption and tied these to pandemic-era regulatory changes, which Gouveia questioned further regarding methodological controls.
Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who sponsored SB 196, testified in strong support of the bill. She criticized Mellion's testimony as exploiting substance abuse issues for financial interests of package stores. DiZoglio argued that the bill would help small restaurants recover from the pandemic by allowing takeout alcohol options. She stressed that such options are safer, allowing consumers to enjoy drinks at home instead of driving, thereby reducing the risk of alcohol-related accidents. The senator noted that while her bill proposes a two-year extension, her ultimate goal is to make these measures permanent to support struggling restaurants.
Rep. Chan noted that substance abuse groups have raised concerns about expanded alcohol access during the pandemic, corroborating Mellion’s emphasis on public health impacts. However, DiZoglio urged not to scapegoat small businesses, asserting that the pandemic's exceptional conditions, rather than legislative changes, fueled increases in substance misuse. She called for a balanced approach, supporting longstanding recovery options for eateries without ignoring broader substance use issues.
Rep. Oliveira sought clarity on the bill’s duration intentions, to which DiZoglio confirmed the temporary two-year extension while expressing long-term goals for permanency. Chan reiterated the breadth of concerns presented by substance abuse organizations and the complexities involved in regulating alcohol amidst pandemic recovery.
Rep. Hill introduced HB 386, advocating for relief to caterers affected by pandemic restrictions. This bill seeks to waive fees collected by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) from caterers unable to work due to wedding venue shutdowns. Hill emphasized the financial burden on small catering businesses during the pandemic and urged immediate relief or consideration of federal aid to support these enterprises. His testimony highlighted cross-state economic competition, with neighboring New Hampshire drawing away business due to fewer restrictions.
Throughout the hearing, the committee engaged in a dialogue to balance economic recovery for local businesses with public health and safety concerns, highlighting the intricate policy landscape influencing alcohol regulation in Massachusetts post-pandemic.
